The Alpha's Rescue

by Rainwatch

Rosy Cottoncloud. Handsome Rowdyfoot. Snickety Fastclaws. Eternal Snowymoon. And Juniper Bravebelle. They're all unique Jammers, with their own thoughts, beliefs and values. But after a vicious Phantom attack, they all volunteer to help the legendary Alpha's Guard fight back against the Phantoms — and in doing so, find themselves caught up in a tangled web of darkness and danger.

13. Thirteen - Snickety Fastclaws

I felt faint.

I was flipping through Jamaa Journal, and there was the message: Phantoms attacked Adventure Base Camp.

A sprawling photograph covered a full page, dark and colorless. It was of the entrance to Adventure Base Camp, and a wolf desperately clawing his way out. I felt shaky just looking at it. What if that wolf was me? What if it was Rosy?

I continued reading. The wolf in the photo was named Handsome Rowdyfoot, and he had been found outside the camp, fleeing from the Phantoms. He gave a full account of the attack, and a search party for the camp was being readied.

That was all the article said. It ended abruptly, as if it was trying to hide all of the gritty details. Why had the Phantoms attacked? Was anyone injured? What had Handsome said? I had a sickening feeling that maybe they weren't supposed to cover such dangerous topics in such an innocent newspaper. Maybe it had been difficult enough to cover the attack at all.

I wanted so desperately to stop thinking about it, but I couldn't. I just couldn't push it away that anyone could've been in that camp. Rosy could've been in that camp.

And then I was thinking of my scamming. I imagined what it would be like if someone scammed me, and my beautiful rares disappeared just like that. Gone. All of them.

I was doing that to other people. I was stealing their rares.

"Rosy!" I screamed, tearing through the Township. "Rosy! Did you read Jamaa Journal?"

She had a grave look on her face. So she had, then.

"That's scary," she murmured. "I don't want to the Phantoms to attack us."

"We have to… we have to do something about it," I said.

Almost the same instance I spoke, a cheetah came sprinting through Jamaa Township, letting out a loud warning call. "Attention!" she cried. "As you Jammers might know, Adventure Base Camp has been attacked!"

"Well, no duh," snorted a rhino nearby.

"The Alphas are sending out a search party, and we need all the help we can get!" the cheetah cried. "All Jammers willing to follow me, go ahead!"

I looked over at Rosy. "You willing to follow her?" I smirked.

She smirked back. "I'll go wherever you go."

I put on a brave face and stepped towards the cheetah.